| A quirky and useful guide to 40th Birthday Gifts | | | | as a flying lesson or a high-speed driving experience. It'll |
| Forty certainly isn't as old as it used to be, but it's still a | | | | show everyone around them that they've still got it, |
| great excuse for a celebration. For the 40th Birthday | | | | even if someone else got it for them. Of course, it |
| gift-buyer, though, it can be a troublesome age to buy | | | | doesn't have to be as heart-racing as all that a meal |
| for. The recipient is neither a spring chicken nor middle | | | | and a West End show might be their cup of tea. |
| aged, and is probably rethinking a few aspects of his | | | | 4. A useful object |
| or her life, hopefully starting with the dress sense. If | | | | Talking of cups of tea, a simple mug with a personal |
| you're looking for 40th birthday gifts to buy a friend or | | | | message will be appreciated every time it's filled. Or |
| relative, take a look at Getting Personal's list of | | | | how about a themed, 40th birthday personalised |
| essential starting points for inspiration. | | | | calendar that starts on their 40th birthday and lasts until |
| 1. Nostalgia | | | | the 41st? Modern printing techniques used by Getting |
| Forty years is a long time to pick up culture, tastes, | | | | Personal's suppliers allow such items to be produced |
| styles and attitudes. If you can reference some | | | | to a very high quality. You don't have to splash out too |
| example of popular culture from their childhood | | | | much on a 40th birthday present just get a simple |
| (currently the 1970s for a 40-year-old), you're on to a | | | | domestic item that they'll see and use every day. |
| winner. Look for TV, pop and sports themes and try | | | | 5. A piece of history |
| to build a gift around them. If you're struggling, try going | | | | Four decades ago, they were probably too |
| a bit older: think about cars and movies from the early | | | | preoccupied with wailing, being passed around and |
| eighties and see if that leads to something. | | | | having their nappies changed to take in the day's |
| 2. Humour | | | | news, so it's good to know that they can catch up on |
| If you're younger than the birthday boy or girl, it's | | | | what was going on outside the maternity ward by |
| traditional to make a joke about their age on reaching | | | | getting hold of a genuine copy of that day's |
| The Big Four-O (it sort of backfires if you're older than | | | | newspaper. |
| them). Of course, they're only a day older than they | | | | 6. Booze! |
| were the day before, so as long as the joke is tasteful | | | | Not a four-pack of Heineken from the supermarket, of |
| and witty, they'll no doubt see the funny side especially | | | | course. For this occasion a mellow, mature whiskey or |
| if it links to something from their personal life. | | | | brandy is bound to receive an appreciative nod. And |
| 3. A new experience | | | | don't forget champagne, the drink that always |
| As 40 might be seen as something of a watershed | | | | accompanies life's milestones. These are the kinds of |
| age (like 30, 50, 60 ), it's a great time to introduce them | | | | treats people rarely buy for themselves, and are great |
| to something they probably haven't done before, such | | | | for sharing or just sipping in front of the box. |